Comsewogue Graduates Largest-Ever Senior Class

The Comsewogue community came together Friday night to celebrate the graduation of 323 seniors, the school district's largest-ever senior class.

"This is an amazing group. There are some strong, strong bonds between these kids," high school principal Joseph Coniglione told Patch in a recent interview.

The ceremony featured performances by student musicians and remarks by student leaders and administrators (see attached video). Alumni Paul Damico (Class of 1982), who is now the president of the food chain Moe's Southwest Grill and recently appeared on the TV show "Undercover Boss," gave a keynote address in which he urged students to "make smart choices that continue to add value to your person."

A touching moment brought some to tears as the administration invited the family of Michael Gallagher to come forward and receive a diploma in his honor. Gallagher, a student who died from a terminal illness, was a member of the Class of 2013.

Class president Kaitlyn Carpinone, who has held that role since she and her peers were in middle school, told the story of an old pair of shoes she had worn every day no matter what the occasion – but which she eventually had to accept she outgrew. She used the story as an analogy to tell her classmates "don’t limit yourself to one pair of shoes. I encourage you to try new things, keep an open mind and to get another pair of shoes."

What will you remember most about this year's Comsewogue senior class? Log in to Patch to share your responses as a comment below.